This was his path.
He wasn't born strong or gifted like some overpowered protagonists but he had his mind, strategy, and a system to guide him.
"Alright… Let's do this."
Even if he was stuck in a baby's body, he would start preparing now.
At first, training was… humiliating.
As an infant, he could barely move his arms properly. The servants and his mother constantly coddled him, making it hard to move freely. He had to pretend to act like a normal baby while secretly building his muscles in small ways.
Every day, he pushed his limits, grasping objects, stretching, wiggling his legs. It was slow, frustrating progress, but progress nonetheless.
Then, the system rewarded him.
[Quest Completed!]
+0.2 Strength
+0.1 Endurance
System Function Unlocked: Skill Panel
A new panel appeared, showing a new skill slot, but it was empty. He would have to earn his first skill manually.
But this proved one thing:
The system didn't give him power freely he had to earn it.
That suited him just fine.
By the time he was three, Eryndor could walk, run, and even do basic body movements with ease.
The system rewards stacked up.
Strength: 1.2 (Above normal for his age) Endurance: 1.5 (Could last longer in physical activity) Intelligence: 2.5 (Sharpened through reading & observing politics) New Skill: [Basic Combat Reflexes] – Allowed him to react faster in sparring.
The results shocked everyone.
His father was impressed by his discipline. His mother found his learning speed remarkable. The servants whispered that he was a genius child.
And then, on his fourth birthday, something incredible happened.
[New Milestone Unlocked: Early Awakening]
[Mana Sense Unlocked]
The moment the notification appeared, a surge of unfamiliar energy flooded his body. It was like an invisible force had awakened inside him, a pulsating warmth coursing through his veins. A flicker of blue energy could be seen radiating from his fingertips which just proved one thing.
Eryndor had magic. And more importantly he could control it.
It wasn't much yet. A flicker of mana, a faint blue glow, but it was a start.
The system rewards had confirmed that he was on the right track, and now that he had Basic Mana Manipulation, his training had only just begun.
But he knew magic alone wouldn't be enough.
This world wasn't just about mages and spells—it was a world of war, politics, and power struggles.
If he wanted to become a king, he had to be strong in every way possible.
That meant mastering not just magic, but combat, leadership, and strategy.
And so, at the young age of four, Eryndor made a decision:
He would train in both magic and swordsmanship—secretly, relentlessly, and without stopping.
The night after his successful mana control, the system screen appeared once more.
[NEW QUEST: THE PATH TO STRENGTH]
Objective: Begin physical training.
Reward: +0.5 Strength, +0.3 Endurance, [New Skill Unlock].
Eryndor smirked.
So, the system also wanted him to get stronger physically? Perfect.
Since he had already been doing small exercises in secret, this would only push him further.
But now, he needed to be smarter about it.
If I train too hard, my parents will notice.
He had to appear like a normal child while training as hard as he could behind the scenes.
Over the next few months, Eryndor began his training in earnest.
His goal was to build his foundation while avoiding suspicion.
Daily Training Routine:
Morning: Running around the estate (pretending to play). Afternoon: Climbing trees (developing agility and grip strength). Evening: Small push-ups and sit-ups before bed. Secret Training: Practicing mana control in his room at night.
At first, his body ached terribly.
His limbs were small, his muscles weak but the system helped.
Each time he pushed his limits, the system gave minor stat increases, helping his body adapt faster than normal.
And then, after three months
[QUEST COMPLETE!]
+0.5 Strength
+0.3 Endurance
NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: BASIC BODY TRAINING
Eryndor grinned.
It was working.
He could feel himself getting faster, stronger, and more durable. His punches were sharper, his grip tighter, and his stamina better than other children his age.
And best of all?
No one suspected a thing.
Or so he thought.
One afternoon, while Eryndor was climbing a tree, he suddenly heard a deep voice.
"That's an interesting way to play."
He froze.
Turning slowly, he saw his father, Lord Alaric, standing a few feet away, arms crossed. His sharp eyes watched him carefully.
Eryndor forced a smile and climbed down. "I was just having fun."
Alaric raised an eyebrow. "Climbing trees? Running laps? Pushing your body beyond what a four-year-old should be able to do? That's more than just 'fun.'"
Eryndor kept his expression neutral, but inside, his mind raced.
Did he notice? No… he's just guessing. Stay calm.
He shrugged. "I just want to be strong like you."
For a moment, his father said nothing.
Then, he sighed and smiled slightly. "Hmph. I see. If that's the case, I won't stop you."
Eryndor blinked. "…You won't?"
Alaric knelt down, placing a strong hand on his son's shoulder.
"Strength is earned, Eryndor. If you truly want it, then you'll have to work for it. I won't hold you back… but I will test you."
Eryndor felt a chill of excitement.
His father was a former war general. If he could earn his approval, his training would become even better.
Alaric stood up. "Meet me in the training yard tomorrow morning. If you're serious, I'll see if you have the potential to wield a sword."
Then he walked away, leaving Eryndor standing there, heart pounding with anticipation.
This was it.
His real training was about to begin.
The next morning, Eryndor woke up before dawn, eager for his first real training session.
The training yard behind the estate was where the Valeria knights practiced their swordplay. Wooden dummies, sparring circles, and training weapons lined the area.
His father was already waiting, arms crossed.
"You came early. Good."
He gestured toward a wooden sword on the ground. "Pick it up."
Eryndor did as he was told, the weight of the sword unfamiliar but exciting.
Alaric watched him carefully. "Before we begin, answer this: Why do you want to be strong?"
Eryndor paused.
He could have said something a child would say—something about being like his father, about wanting to be strong for fun.
But instead, he met his father's gaze and answered honestly:
"Because I want to be strong enough to protect what is mine."
His father's eyes narrowed slightly. "…Interesting answer."
Then, without warning Alaric swung his own wooden sword.
WHACK!
Eryndor barely had time to raise his own sword, and even then he was sent stumbling backward from the sheer force of the blow.
Pain shot through his arms.
His father lowered his weapon. "Lesson one: Strength means nothing without control. Again."
Eryndor gritted his teeth and got back up.
And so, the real training began.
Later that night, as Eryndor lay in bed, his body sore from training, the system gave him another notification.
[NEW QUEST: PATH OF THE SWORD]
Objective: Train under an expert until recognized.
Reward: +1 Strength, +1 Combat Reflex, [Basic Swordsmanship Skill Unlock].
Eryndor grinned through his exhaustion.
"This is just the beginning."
He would master magic, swordsmanship, and leadership step by step, battle by battle.
And one day, he would build the greatest kingdom this world had ever seen.
For now, though…
He had to survive his father's brutal training.